1. Elections and Voting Behavior

2. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Deciding Whether to Vote
U.S. typically has low voter turnouts.
Some argue it is a rational choice to not vote.
Political Efficacy: The belief that one’s political participation really matters.
Civic Duty: The belief the in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote.

3. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
The Decline of Turnout: (Figure 10.2)

4. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Registering To Vote
Voter Registration: A system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of the election day.
Registration procedures differ from state to state.
Motor Voter Act: Requires states to permit people to register to vote when the apply for their driver’s license.

5. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Who Votes?
Education: More education = more likely to vote. Most important factor.
Age: Older = more likely to vote.
Race: Caucasian = more likely to vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education.
Gender: Female = more likely to vote.

6. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice
Who Votes? (continued)
Marital Status: Married = more likely to vote.
Union Membership: Union member = more likely to vote.
Traits are cumulative - possessing several adds up.

7. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice

8. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizens’ Decisions
Mandate Theory of Elections
The idea that the winning candidate has a mandate from the people to carry out his or her platforms and politics.
Politicians like the theory better than political scientists do.

9. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions
Party Identification
People generally vote for a party they agree with.
Rise of candidate-centered politics has changed this view.
Now many voters are individualistic.
Characteristics of each candidate have become more important than party.

10. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen’s Decisions

11. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions
Candidate Evaluations: How Americans See the Candidates
Candidates want a good visual image.
Most important dimensions are integrity, reliability, and competence.
Personality still plays a role.

12. How Americans Vote: Explaining Citizen's Decisions
Policy Voting
Basing your vote choice on issue preferences.
Must know where they and the candidates stand on issues and see differences between candidates.
Candidates can be ambiguous on the issues.
The press tends to focus on the “horse race” not the issues.
Today candidates are forced to take a clear stand in the party primaries.

13. The Last Battle: The Electoral College
Electoral College actually elects the President - founders wanted him chosen by the elite of the country
States choose the electors
Winner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis to more populated states

14. The Last Battle: The Electoral College
How it works today:
Each state has as many votes as it does Representatives and Senators.
Winner of popular vote typically gets ALL the Electoral College votes.
Electors meet in December, votes are reported by the vice president in January.
If no candidate gets 270 votes (a majority), the House of Representatives votes for president, with each state getting ONE vote.

15. The Last Battle: The Electoral College

16. Understanding Elections and Voting Behavior
Democracy and Elections
Voters can steer government only when there are noticeable policy differences between the candidates.
Candidates who vow to continue popular policies are more likely to win elections.
Policies affect voting behavior through retrospective voting.
Bad economies make politicians nervous.